TEA TIME WITH BG TEA BAR

Most tea you get around the city is usually limited to hot water in ceramic cups with a tea bags or full bodied milk tea in orthodox glasses. We haven’t really been keen on the trend and the chances of being identified as a tea drinking nation is slim and narrow. However, in a city that excels at following trends Baskota Group Tea Bar has taken an unconventional path and ventured forward with a fresh concept.

BG Tea Bar is the first of its kind here in Kathmandu. This unique tea bar serves orthodox tea, broken leaves tea, fanning’s specialty tea in an enthralling way that reminds you of the essence of time. There is a plethora of teas to choose from. The detail with which tea is presented is very interesting and their efforts are evident in their presentation.

BG was formed for the sole purpose of marketing of KTE groups of industries. KTE is the first certified organic tea garden of Nepal. It produces quality products through innovative ayurvedic/organic techniques. It advocates Corporate Social Responsibility through Eco-house project, scholarship programs and cow bank project. KTE is not just a tea producing company, but a center for education too. Every year a number of students from various countries including France, Germany, Korea, Japan intern for months and contribute a helping hand while they acquaint themselves with the knowledge of Organic Agriculture and Co- operative approach to a company

Established almost three decades ago KTE produces approximately 100,000 kgs per year that is exported to various countries of the world. The Tea Bar was made keeping in mind the niche market in Nepal that would enjoy sophisticated tea culture in the comfort of the city. Although a fresh experiment that needs a lot of work we hope that BG Tea Bar reaches the heights it has aimed to. The Tea Bar is a small place that will give you exquisite tea that will please your taste buds.

Ms. Samikchya Baskota

The coordinator of BG Tea Bar who is confident that BG Tea Bar might reach the height of Harrods Tea Room believes there is no better quality of tea provider in Nepal compared to KTE.

Some excerpts from the interview session the TNM team had with Ms. Baskota is given below.

HOW IS THE TEA SCENARIO CHANGING IN NEPAL?

A few years ago they were acquainted with green tea and it’s benefits but before that it was just milk tea or black tea. Slowly people are being aware that there are specialty tea varieties available. In case of Nepal since the people here try to follow the western trends they will slowly adapt to the specialty tea as well.

HOW IS THIS PYRAMID TEA BAG EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE HERE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER TEA BAGS?

The pyramid tea bags are made only by KTC in Nepal. The aroma, the flavor everything is different. Leaf teas are the only things mixed with other specialty ingredients and the quality and taste of the tea is really better. The leaves are less processed and more organic.

HOW ARE YOU MARKETING AND WHAT ARE THE STRATEGIES THAT YOU ARE USING?

We have plans to be implemented related to BG Tea bar after Baisakh 2073. We might have been lagging behind a little bit on the promotion part but then we are implementing it from new year for sure. Right now we are just using social media for promotion.

We have tea-tasting sessions every week so that we could inform and educate people on specialty tea. We also have BSA Mela in Bikalpa Art Centre every end of the month. Le Sherpa also has a farmer’s market every Saturday and we promote our products there in the stall. We open Mini Tea Bars there on Saturday.

EVEN THOUGH KTC HAS BEEN THERE FOR THREE DECADES WE HAVE NOT HEARD MUCH ABOUT IT WHY IS IT SO?

My father is a bit orthodox and believed that good products need not be advertised. He believed that customer referrals would be enough.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU ARE FACING AS THE FIRST MOVER OF THE MARKET?

Well tea culture is not established as of yet and since we are tea bar with no or limited snack/meal menu we have had to turn down a lot of customers. People are not acquainted to the concept of tea bars and ask for coffee when they come here. It is challenging of course but the tea lovers come back again and refer us to their friends and claim that we have amazing tea varieties.

FIVE WORDS TO REPRESENT BG TEA BAR.

Organic

Orthodox Tea

Crafted Classics

Exclusive and Authentic

“MY FATHER IS A BIT ORTHODOX AND BELIEVED THAT GOOD PRODUCTS NEED NOT BE ADVERTISED.”

TNM Team

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